Gabriel Jackson - Rigwreck (The Crossing; Donald Nally)

Information

Composer: Gabriel Jackson

1. According to Seneca (2011)
2. Yes, I am your angel (2016)
3. Rigwreck (2013)
4. Self-Portrait in Charleston, Orlando (2019)
5. Darest thou now O soul? (2021)

The Crossing

Donald Nally, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Navona

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The album Rigwreck showcases the renowned choral ensemble The Crossing, conducted by Donald Nally, performing five contemporary works by celebrated British composer Gabriel Jackson. Recorded in 2024, this decade-spanning collection features urgent, text-driven choral pieces set to the poetry of diverse writers, including Walt Whitman and Dean Rader. The compositions serve as artistic journalism, addressing profound themes such as gun violence, emotional longing, and ecological crisis—specifically the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the title track. Ultimately, Jackson’s demanding repertoire requires the ensemble to navigate profound technical virtuosity and emotional vulnerability to explore the fragile bonds of human existence.

Born in Bermuda in 1962, English composer Gabriel Jackson is a three-time British Composer Award winner celebrated for his prolific output and engaging style. After serving as a Canterbury Cathedral chorister, he studied at the Royal College of Music under Richard Blackford and John Lambert, earning multiple composition prizes. While Jackson has composed for organ and piano, he is best known for his vocal music and expert use of text, influenced by Stravinsky, Tippett, soul, and R&B. His notable milestones include major commissions for King's College and the Tallis Scholars, and serving as associate composer to the BBC Singers.

Four-time Grammy Award-winning conductor Donald Nally is a highly accomplished choral leader who collaborates with global artists and major orchestras to create new works addressing social and environmental issues. As the leader of his ensemble, The Crossing, Nally has commissioned over 200 works and produced 41 recordings. He has held prestigious chorus master positions at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Welsh National Opera, prepared choruses for top-tier international symphonies, and curated multidisciplinary museum projects worldwide. A dedicated educator and Northwestern University Professor Emeritus, two of Nally's pandemic-era projects are preserved as cultural artifacts by the Library of Congress.

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